Prachanda Rejects the New, Shows Preference for the Old Faction

Speaker DP Aryal addressed Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ in parliament as the only former prime minister. Prachanda identified himself as a new, old, and third-category leader, recalling his longstanding relationship with Congress and UML. He advised Prime Minister Balendra Shah to maintain utmost respect, emphasizing that enduring a defeat is easier than digesting a victory.

During Tuesday’s session, Speaker DP Aryal’s address of Prachanda as a former prime minister felt unusual. Currently, Prachanda is the sole sitting former prime minister in the House of Representatives. The flood of elections in the month of Falgun swept away the ranks of former prime ministers. Sher Bahadur Deuba, Baburam Bhattarai, and Jhalanath Khanal did not contest the election. Other former prime ministers and aspirants for the new premiership were defeated.

Following Prachanda’s remarks on new and old leaders, it became apparent that there are three types of leaders in parliament: new leaders, old leaders, and Prachanda. Prachanda falls into the third category because, unlike the 2008 Constituent Assembly election era where he represented a completely new party and a new Nepal, he does not portray himself in that light now; nor can he preserve the old-established beliefs of the Congress and UML. While he urged not to be labeled as old, he repeatedly fondly recalled those old ties.

In his speech, Prachanda also narrated his experience of sitting in opposition with Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) after ending cooperation with Congress and UML a few years ago. However, it appeared he had largely forgotten the Congress and UML, who assisted him in becoming prime minister when he had only 32 seats. Prachanda no longer holds the magic number, thus compelling him to play a roughly paternal role in this parliament.

Prachanda suggested that Prime Minister Balendra Shah maintain the highest dignity and stated that if the prime minister does not uphold it, no one else can preserve the house’s decorum. He said, “It is harder to digest a victory than to endure a defeat.” He acknowledged that the democratization of knowledge and information through digitalization has yet to reach its full potential. He also remarked, “The core soul of modern democracy lies in trade unions themselves.”

Prachanda’s parliamentary journey has remained steady regardless of circumstances. When he shared the story of history grounded in reality and practice, the new generation of MPs smiled in support but refrained from applauding. This marks the current change in Nepal’s political landscape— a change Prachanda himself did not desire.